Lasting-machine.



A. L. RUSSELL.

LASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.22, 1909.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. L. RUSSELL.

LASTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 111 3.22, 1909.

'1,iO60,1 30. Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 [Mm/[555$ 564M217 ARTHUR L. RUSSELL, 0F HYDE PARK,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON,NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LASTING-MAGI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. RUSSELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hyde Park, in the county of Norfolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Lasting-Machines,of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawingsindicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to lasting machines of the class employinggrippers for pulling the upper and laying it over a last and, for

some classes of work, employing wipers to press the upper into positionto be secured by a binder of wire.

The invention is illustrated as applied to a machine of the type shownin United States Letters Patent No. 584,744, and has for one object toimprove the mechanism for actuating the overworking devices. At the toeand sometimes at other parts of the shoe the grippers are required toplait or fold the marginal portion of the upper upon the shoe bottom totake care of the fullness which is incident to bending the upperinwardly over the convex edge of the last bottom. The machine isequipped for this purpose with grippers and operating mechanism thereforwhich may advantageously be of the special construction shown in myco-pending application Ser. No. 468,541 in which they are claimed,although any other construction may also be employed. The machineaccording to a feature of this invention is further equipped. with a newwiper movement ,to cooperate with the other lasting or lasting andfastening devices for progressively overworking the upper moreexpeditiously and effectively than heretofore. The wiper shown extendsacross the line of pull of the grippers and there is provided thereforoperating means which is capable of adjustment to move the wiperangularly, as for example about one or the other end of the illustratedconstruction, in the direction in which the grippers are turned to formthe plaitor fold. By this means an angularly movable wiper is causedalways to force the point of the fold backwardly from the edge of theshoe bottom in the oblique direction in which the fold extends.

This invention also contemplates operating a wiper of any suitableconstruction an;

.2 and 3.

tomatically in two successive steps in the same direction with a dwellbetween the steps. Herein this occurs during the retractron of the wiperand a special purpose is to cause the wiper, after having advanced overthe point or line where the fastening is to be applied and havingthereby prepared the work for the reception of the fastening, to uncoverthe fastening location in. the first step of its backward stroke andthen to stop in holding engagement with the upper while the fastening isapplied after which, in the second step of its actuation and preferablybefore the shoe recovers from the impact of the driver, the retractionof the wiper is completed.

These and other features of the invention, including the novel detailsof construction shown and certain combinations of parts disclosed, willbe fully explained in connection with the following description of anapparatus embodying the invention and will then be pointed out in theclaims.

Figure l is a perspective view of the grippers and of those relatedparts of a lasting machine of the type shown in said patent which areconcerned with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showingmodifications. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the grippers on a largerscale than Figs. 1 and 2 and from the reverse side. Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7are detail views illustrating the plaiting operations as effected by thegrippers, Figs. 6 and 7 showing modifications in the form of the jaws.Fig. 8 shows the formation of the gripping faces of the gripper jaws.Fig.

9 shows more completely the construction illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 10shows the grippers and the wiper working from right to left on one sideof the toe of a McKay shoe, and Fig. 11 shows these part-s working fromleft to right on the other side of such a shoe.

The driving shaft 1 supports cam blocks The block 2 has a groove in itsfront face from which the updraw lever 28 is actuated unyieldingly' tolower the grippers to their gripping position and yieldingly to upliftthem to pull the stock. The block 3 has an edge cam face from which isactuated a rockshaft 4 carrying a yielding plunger 6 to close thegrippers which are opened by a spring 51 pressing upwardly upon a stud10 which projects from the closing rod 20 within the gripper carryingbar 14 which has a ball head by which it is suspended from the updrawlever. The block 3 has also a cam face on its rear side for engaging astud on a rod 54L which has at its forward end a yoke connected with thegrippers by which they are moved inwardly toward their gripping positionin time relation with their descending movement from the cam block .2.The rod 54 is extended to the rear where it is engaged by a springactuated arm 18 to force the grippers outwardly to draw the upper overthe last bottom in time relation with the updrawing movement and towithdraw the gripper jaws from the plait while lasting the toe.

The gripper carrying bar 14 is outwardly deflected at its lower end andhas a hearing extending obliquely downwardly and in-. wardly withinwhich the grippers are rotatably mounted. The grippers comprise a shankor cylindrical block 13 held in the bearing by a flange at one end andan arm 25 at the other. The block has a split clamp in which is fixedthe lower gripper jaw 19 while the other jaw 21 is guided through theblock to which it is connected by links 26 while the end of its shank islocated in the longitudinal axis of the block and has a ball and socketengagement with a lever 15. This lever is forked and is fulcrumed at.its upper end to the bar 14 which has slots in its sides for guiding thecross head 17 of the closing rod 20. The ends of the cross head extendinto cam slots as shown in the forks of the closing lever for actuatingthe lever to close jaw 21 upon jaw 19 or upon the stock between the jawswhen the rod 20 is forced downwardly. The gripping faces of the jaws arepreferably tapering from a broad head to a blunt point to facilitate theformation of plaits or folds in the upper as will be described and thesefaces may have the surface formation shown in Fig. 8 to enable them tohold the stock securely. This formation comprises in one jaw grooves 35the side walls of which extend oblique to the direction of the pull tobe exerted on the stock and converge toward the point of the aw. Thegrooves may increase in depth from the point toward the head andpreferably will be aranged at an angle to one another. The side groovesin the jaw 19 incline in opposite directions toward the point of the jawand the raised faces be-' tween the grooves and at either side of thejaw are of substantially the same width. throughout their length. Theupper clamped against jaw 19 is compressed into the grooves and cannotslip toward the point of the jaw without being compressed laterallybetween the converging side walls of the grooves and, as the groovesdiminish in depth toward the point the compression in the direction ofthe thickness of the stock is also increased if the stock slipsoutwardly in the grippers. The jaw 21 has ribs 36 which force the stockinto the grooves. These ribs resemble in shape the grooves 35 in thatthey decrease in width and in height toward the point of the jaw,although preferably to a less extent so that they wedge or pinch theupper against the walls of the grooves if it begins to slip. The raisedfaces of the several ribs 36 on the one jaw and between the grooves 35in the other impress themselves into the upper as the jaws close andthus direct the course of the stock if it slips, compelling it to gatherin or full up between the lower portions of the jaws whereby thepressure upon the stock is increased and the slipping automaticallychecked. Teeth are formed on the raised faces between the grooves 35 andon the ribs 36 to assist in holding the stock.

The bearing in the carrier 14 for the gripper block 13 extends obliquelyto the plane of the shoe bottom, which is determined by the shoe bottomand edge rests, and in substantially the direction in which the upperextends from the edge of the last to the grippers in the overdrawingmovement of the grippers. The arm 25 serves to rotate the grippers aboutthis axis when plaiting of the upper is desired and to this end the arm1s connected by the rod 27, elbow lever 29 and extensible rod 11 with asegment block 9 adapted tobe adjusted off the center at either side ofthe rocker which is fast on the front end of sleeve 7 and is oscillatedby a lever 5 receiving motion from a groove in the front face of the camblock 3. The segment block is set by a connection explained in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 500,141, with a vertical, manually shiftable,rockshaft 80, having a knee yoke as shown in that patent. The rod 11 mayinclude a yielding element, as shown in Fig. 2,through which therotating movement of the grippers for the formation of plaits isyieldingly effected. The movement for forming plaits is illustrated inFigs. 4, 5, 6 and 7. In Fig. 2 there is shown means for also turning thegrippers about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the planeof the shoe bottom. This may be employed to swing the grippers laterallyin laying the plait and cause them, while forming the plait, to take upstock mainly or wholly from that side which is in advance of thegrippers. This has the advantage of extending the scope or range ofaction of the grippers, causing them to gather in the upper fartheralong the edge of the shoe, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, so that thepulling points may be farther apart and fewer pulls required for lastinga shoe. Another advantage is that the previously formed. plait is notpulled out or disturbed. The turning movement about the perpendicularaxis may be effected by known mechanism including a connection from thesegment block 9 to a lever 52 for reciprocating a rack bar 22, 31, whichengages teeth on the ball head of the gripper carrying bar 20, as shownin Fig. 2. This connection may bemade yielding by the spring and theextent of the move ment imparted may be varied by adjusting the fulcrumblock 53 which is movable in the frame of the machine. Preferably thedescribed turning of the grippers will take place in such time relationwith the rotation of the jaws that the rear edge of the jaws will remainin substantially the same vertical plane during the formation of thefold and thus the last plait formed will remain undisturbed while theone being made is formed from stock pulled as indicated by the arrow inFig. 5. Substantially the same result can be obtained, where plaiting inone direction only is required as in welt and turn shoes, by forming thegripper jaws as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 with the rear edges in the samevertical plane as that in which the oblique axis of rotation is located.By so doing the parts 52, 53, 22 and 31 may be omitted as shown in Fig.1 and the machine thus simplified, It will be understood that i the jawsof Fig. 4 or Fig. 6 may be used in the machine as shown in Fig. 1 orFig. 2. If the gripper carrying bar 20 is to be turned by the parts asshown in Fig. 2 that bar is formed to turn in a sleeve or block 41 whichsupports the elbow lever 29 and with which the overdraw rod 54 isconnected. A 1 swinging wiper 40 is actuated from the cam block 2 by alever 42 and plunger 44. The wiper is actuated in time relation to therotation of the grippers and serves by its shearing action to wipe inthe upper toward lasted position, as against the shoulder of a welt shoeinnersole. The wiper serves also to crowd the point or wrinkle of theplait inwardly from the edge of the shoe having the margin smooth asshown to receive the welt which is to be sewn on to the lasted shoe. Itis to be noted that the spring actuating the arm 18 is put under tensionwhen the upper is overdrawn and as soon as the jaws 19, 21 open torelease the upper this spring expands and forces the grippers outwardlyfrom the machine, as far as the stud on rod 54 will permit, causing thejaws to withdraw from the plait they have formed.

The wiper herein shown is formed and arranged to be swung by theengagement of the plunger 44 with either slide bar 45 or 46, accordingto the position of the knee lever 47 which can act through verticalrockshaft 80 and link 49 to position the plunger in engagement with bar45 or bar 46, or if desired, intermediate said bars when the wiper isnot to be actuated. The wiper in this respect is controlled in harmonywith the control of the grippers, and when the grippers are plaitingfrom right toward left, as in Fig. 10, the plunger will actuate bar 45and the wiper and grippers are caused to co6perate as shown in thatfigure in full and dotted lines. This may be the procedure in lastingone side of a McKay shoe which it is customary to last in oppositedirections from the middle of the toe backwardly. Fig. 11 shows theoperation in lasting the second side of a McKay toe. The upper isfastened in McKay work by tacks inserted by driver from a forwardly andbackwardly sliding tack carrier 62 which advances to a position to drivethe tack directly in front of the wiper 40. Preferably the wipercontrolling rear surface of the cam 2 is formed to advance the wiperahead of the tack carrier and then to back up the wiper slightly topermit the tack to be inserted into a portion of the overlaid upperstock that has been smoothed and compacted for the reception of the tackby the rubbing action of the wiper 40. This action of the wiper issecured by forming a slight depression in the wiper advancing or holdingface, said depression being so located that the wiper will be permitteda partial retraction by its springs 63 or 64, acting on the slide 45 or46, just before the descent of the driver. The cam may advantageouslyhold the wiper stationary in its partially retracted position during theinsertion of the tack and complete the retraction immediately after theinsertion of the tack and before the shoe recovers fully from the impactof the drivers and before the feed takes place, whereby a minimum of abackward drag of the wiper over the shoe will occur. It will beunderstood that the comparatively stationary end of the wiper, that isthe right-hand end in Fig. 10 or the left-hand end in Fig. 11, remainsconstantly over the shoe edge and assists in guiding and positioning theshoe. The other or swinging end of the wiper sweeps obliquely inwardlywith a shearing action in time rela tion with the plaiting movement ofthe grippers, and in the same oblique direction as the plaiting strainon the uppersee the ar rows in Figs. 5 and 6to assist the grippers instraining and forming the upper over the edge of the last in laying itin position to be secured. It will be observed that the wiper having thedescribed movement presses the point or end of the fold or crease backfrom the edge of the last so as to leave a smooth margin on the shoebottom from the edge inwardly beyond the points which will be visible inthe crease between the upper and sole or welt of the completed shoe.

The operation of the lasting machine as a whole may be substantially thesame as that of the machine of said prior Patent 584,744, being modifiedslightly in detail by this invention as appears from the foregoingdescription. The purpose of the new mechanisms has been sufficientlyexplained in connection with the description of the construction andarrangement of the illustrated embodiment thereof.

This case is a continuation, as to common subject-matter, of applicationSerial No. 468,541, filed Dec. 21, 1908, and moreover the constructionof the gripper itself is not claimed in this application, the samehaving been made the subject-matter of a divisional application SerialNo. 565,225 filed June 6, 1910, but

I do herein claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States:

1. A lasting machine having in combination grippers, actuating mechanismtherefor arranged to turn the grippers in opposite directions atdifierent times for forming plaits in opposite directions, a wiperarranged to extend across the line of pull of the grippers, and meansadapted for adjust ment to turn the wiper in either directionalternatively to enable it to cooperate with the grippers in forming aplait in the direction for which the grippers are adjusted.

2. A lasting machine having in combination grippers, actuating mechanismtherefor arranged for adjustment to turn the grippers in one or theopposite direction, a swinging wiper and connected means for causing thewiper to swing in the direction in which the grippers are turned.

8. A lasting machine having in combination grippers, actuating mechanismtherefor arranged to cause the grippers to fold the upper obliquely atone time in one direction and at a different time in the oppositedirection, and a wiper and means arranged to cause the wiper to wipe theupper always in the same oblique direction as it is being folded.

4. A. lasting machine having in combination grippers, actuatingmechanism therefor arranged to cause the grippers to fold the upperobliquely at one time in one direction and at a different time in theopposite direction, and a wiper and means arranged for adjustment withthe grippers to swing the wiper about one or the other end thereof inthe direction to force the point of the fold backwardly from the edge ofthe shoe in the oblique direction in which the fold extends.

5. A lasting machine having in combination grippers and means to actuatethe grip pers to work an upper over a last, a wiper to cooperate withthe grippers and actuating means for the 'wiper having provision forautomatically retracting the wiper in two steps.

6. A lasting machine having in combination grippers, actuating mechanismtherefor, a wiper to hold the overworked upper while it is fastened, andautomatic actuating 'means for advancing the wiper, partiallyretract-ing it, maintaining it in holding engagement with the upper topermit the upper to be fastened and then completing the retraction ofthe wiper.

7. A lasting machine having in combination grippers to pull an upperover a last, a swinging wiper to compact the upper upon the last bottomand hold it while it is being fastened, means for swinging the wiperinwardly over the position to be occupied by the fastening means, thenpartially retracting the wiper to permit the placing of the fasteningmeans while the wiper continues to hold the upper and then completingthe backward swing of the wiper.

8. An automatically operating lasting and tacking machine having incombination grippers, a wiper and actuating mechanism for the grippersand wiper having provision for advancing the wiper to compact the stockat the tacking line, retracting the wiper to uncover the tacking lineduring the tacking operation and then completing the retraction of thewiper.

9. An automatically operating lasting and tacking machine having incombination grippers,-a wiper, a tacker, and actuating mechanism forsaid parts arranged to advance the wiper over the tacking line,partially retract the wiper to uncover the tacking line, insert thetacks while the wiper holds the upper, and then complete the retractionof the wiper before the shoe recovers from the impact of the driveragainst it.

10. A lasting machine having, in combination, devices for working anupper over a last into position to be fastened including a wiper andoperating mechanism therefor arranged to actuate the wiper automaticallyin two successive steps in the same direction with a dwell between thesteps.

11. A lasting machine having, in combination, devices for working anupper over a last into position to be fastened including a wiper andoperating mechanism therefor arranged to actuate the wiper automaticallyin two successive steps, the first step terminating with the wiperholding the upper to facilitate the operation of another device'on theupper during the dwell in the wiper movement and the subsequent stepcompleting the stroke of the wiper in the same direction as the firststep.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a wiper andmeans which can be adjusted for causing the wiper to move over the shoeedge in a direction inclined toward either side of the median plane ofthe machine.

18. A step-by-step lasting machine having, in combination, a wiper,means adapted for advancing and retracting the wiper during each cycleof the machine, and means which can be adjusted for causing the Wiper toswing laterally With reference to either side of the median plane of themachine.

14. A lasting machine having, in combination, grippers, means forimparting lat eral movements to the grippers to plait the upper ineither direction, a Wiper, means for actuating the Wiper to cause aportion of its acting edge to advance over the shoe bottom in adirection inclined to the shoe edge in the same direction as the plaitsbeing formed, and means for initiating, directing and suspending theplaiting movements of the grippers and the Wiper simultaneously.

15. A machine for Working successive portions of an upper over a last byrepeated operations having, in combination, a Wiper, and actuatingmechanism adapted for adjustment to impart to the Wiper difi'erentoperative movements for different portions of the shoe.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ARTHUR L. RUSSELL.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK L. EDMANDS, JAMES R. HODDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

